The Malayasia based low cost airline which is set to launch its operations from Chennai is likely to hire crew for both its Indian and global operations.

The airline will conduct interviews for crew in Chennai next week.

Although the airline spokesperson refused to divulge crew requirement for its Indian operations, sources said the airline is likely to hire about 50 flight attendants for its initial operations.

AirAsia chief executive Tony Fernandes had earlier announced that the airline will begin operations with 3-4 airbus A320s from Chennai base and will fly to tier II-III towns.

The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approved a plan of AirAsia to start a new airline in India in a joint venture with Tata Sons Ltd. It cleared the proposal despite reservations from the civil aviation ministry, whose view was that the foreign direct investment (FDI) note only talked about investment in an existing venture, rather than in a new company.

However, the finance ministry clarified the FDI note talked about investment in both existing and new ventures.

AirAsia had said it would set up a 49:30:21 joint venture with Tata Sons and Telstra Tradeplace (owned by Indian investor Arun Bhatia), to launch an Indian airline.

According to analysts, it will be a huge employment boost to trained crew in India, especially from grounded Kingfisher Airlines.

Kingfisher Airlines, controlled by liquor baron Vijay Mallya, has been grounded since last October. It has also lost its flying licence after it failed to produce an operational plan to the government. Its employees can be easily coaxed to join Air Asia’s India operations.